Bellanca Hotel — Hotel in Avalon

Below is the review that I posted to Tripadvisor. The worst part, I didn't as for a penny but the hotel has now decided to debate with me that they have disclaimers on their booking process about rooms not having a patio. I went through the booking flow twice again and there is nothing, I even provided them screenshots. What a poorly managed place. Don't support places like this until they learn how to treat customers. There are nother options and Airbnbs.

We booked the Ocean View Suite and paid $1300 for two nights, the quality of the place it should at best have been $250 a night. The picture of the room had a patio with chairs “Each of these distinct studio suites promise its own personal charm, but the same perfect ocean view. “ Based on that and his quote I was sure we would have one. No patio at all. I am not even sure a room existed with one other than their most expensive suite which was booked.

One wall of the room was windows, but good luck opening them because if you do the entire center of Catalina, including the restaurant seating below can see inside. This is a bait and switch tactic and they should know better - it’s easy to put a disclaimer that not all rooms have a patio etc. while eating breakfast we heard a couple at the front desk getting a refund because of issues where there room looked nothing like what they expected.

The room was clean and bed was comfortable, but again very average slightly renovated motel style. Saturday we were out 1030-330 - came back and our room hadn’t been cleaned. Not a huge deal but I wanted to rest, needed water and there was no do not disturb sign. I tried calling down and our phone didn’t work. I then used my cell and the hotels main line rang twice and went to voicemail. Left a message, never heard a word back and waters were never dropped off.

Saturday at midnight someone was stomping around above our room - assuming someone on the rooftop deck - not great for sleep and it’s now 8am and they have been vacuuming for 20 minutes. It’s a motel style setup with a common center area - all rooms across from each other so you can hear everything.

Sunday morning I go downstairs at 9 asking where to get coffee. They send me down the road, odd. Back 15-20 later and the restaurant is now open I asked to sit outside to finish my coffee and I’m told only if I’m ordering food. I said yes i am staying here and will in a few just waiting for my husband - i was told this seating is for the restaurant but I could go to the roof. There were at least 12 open bar style seats. I get not letting anyone just take seats, but I am staying here and I would be eating maybe just not instantly. The staff just hangs at the front desk talking, enforcing never greets you when you come in and we know not answering the phone after my several attempts to call.

The breakfast at the restaurant was very good the day before, as was the service from the guy working but that would be the only reason I would return and that’s not a reason to return for the price since you can stay elsewhere and eat there. Our friends stayed at Metropole which we considered but they were out of ocean views at the time, we should have followed their lead they were...

Let's start with the good... location, location, location. Bellanca is on a great corner, with easy access to the casino and Descanso Beach and in the other direction to all shopping, restaurants, bars, and services. No further than a 10-15 walk to anywhere you want to be. The Naughty Fox is on site for a quick bite or a cocktail, which is also super convenient. I could smell the cleanliness when we walked into our room and it was definitely well disinfected and turned over. |I did have a concern when we checked in because our room shared a wall with the front office space and the lobby was steps away. The music plays until the lobby shuts down at 10pm. I asked about the noise level because I am a light sleeper. I was assured that quiet hours were from 10pm-10am, in accordance to the website. But this room was in the pathway for ALL the other guest rooms, so we could hear people coming in late or leaving early. There was nothing we could do about that, but the first morning maintenance was fixing the property bikes (think tinkering & pounding on metal), which were right outside our room at around 8am. The following morning, maintenance was fixing a damaged window to the adjoining office, also around 8:00 - 8:30am. He was clearly frustrated because he was arguing with a housekeeper about the timing of the work order. I would have let this go since we only had one more night, but after returning from getting coffee our doorway was blocked with 3-4 bikes, as they continued to repair the window. I went to the front desk (again, steps away from our room) and asked if she was aware there are guests in #105. She said, "Yes, but they're working on the window", looking at me like I was an alien. I asked that they move the bikes to another space while they work because I couldn't access the door. They found ample space around the main staircase. I mentioned the noise in the mornings and she reiterated the quiet hours. The problem is that the work was being done inside of quiet hours, which was not acknowledged. Acknowledgement & apologies go a long way for me. The only other caution I'll throw out there is be careful going up the stairs to the rooftop sitting area - they are a bit unstable with the old carpeting. Step fully on each step. |I will say that aside from the woman I spoke with about the bicycles & the gentleman who appeared to be the grumpy maintenance manager, the rest of the staff was awesome. When we checked in, the two young ladies were very friendly & warm. The bar/restaurant staff was also great. The housekeepers were also wonderful. This is not a bad hotel, but I would steer clear of the first floor rooms if possible. Otherwise, enjoy beautiful Catalina Island and...

We had the most traumatizing experience at this Hotel. I have been working for one of the best hotels brands in Beverly Hills and I do understand Hotel customer service this was beyond upsetting, it was sad and humiliating. We made the reservation on a partner's website. At checking in usually they give you a quick rundown of amenities and usually they give you the check out time but she did not, so from the start I was not aware of checking out time. I was traveling with my sister who had an internal medical complication wich I m not getting into details but next morning Sunday we ran to the local Catalina medical center to see an emergency doctor since she had an intense hemorrhage that she could not stop. After a quick medical check-up doctor asked for her to rest until the next ferry at 3 pm due to an internal infection. We rushed to the hotel because it was 11 am and she wanted to lay down for at least 1 hour prior to check out that we thought it was 12 or 1. When we came back from the medical appointment the front desk manager rudely said, I TOLD YOU CHECK OUT WAS 11, I said I m sorry but we didn't know , we were trying to rush to the doctor at 830 am I said I m sorry we will leave soon, but can you please extend us to late check out since we have a personal issue. NO I CANNOT WAIT I HAVE PEOPLE WAITING FOR YOUR ROOM, it was only 12 pm. I didn't want to argue but my sister due to hemorrhage needed to take a shower, this person called the manager started slamming on the window door with her palm, yelling outside I TOLD YOU YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOT. the argument started between us I ask her to leave, my sister was showering due to her emergency.I could not rush her, we walked out of the room by 1245, and I didn't say much I say I need to please leave my bag next to the other ones that are being held at the entrance because she need to eat something and sit down before 3 pm ferry, she rudely said NO THIS IS FOR OTHER GUESTS YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR BAGS RIGHT NOW. then she said I charged you an additional $150 for late checkout and the argument kept elevating between us, she was yelling insulting us my sister was embarrassed and sad, we walked at the door while we were walking outside she was still yelling insults to us from the front desk while we walked away, we had to take a chopper back to Los Angeles for 400 dollars due to the lack of understanding and rudeness...